RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical application of the tubularized incised plate (TIP) in the surgical treatment of hypospadias.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study included 169 cases of hypospadias treated by TIP surgery from January 2007 to April 2009. The patients ranged in age from 1.5 to 12 years (mean 3.68 yr). The TIP technique was modified based on that described by Snodgrass, with the urethral plate longitudinally incised and a urethral stent kept in place. The patients were hospitalized for 10 days postoperatively, and followed up for an average of 2 years, ranging from 6 months to 3 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complications developed in 18 (10.6%) of the patients, most frequently meatal stenosis (9 cases, 5.3%) and urethrocutaneous fistula (8 cases, 4.7%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The TIP technique, as a surgical method, can be applied to most hypospadias cases. The accumulation of clinical experience and skills may help raise the success rate and reduce the complications of TIP surgery.</p>